The Danger of being Misled
The Danger of Being Misled
Matthew 21-24
“For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.”
Matthew 24 is a pivotal chapter in our understanding of what is happening in the world today and where the world is going. We live in a world and culture that many have characterized as a culture of fear. Something sinister seems to lurk in the future, and causes us to be fearful. Everywhere we turn, there are signs that our world is moving toward an impending crisis. For some, it is the geopolitical world, where international tensions seem to rise even as the economy becomes more global than national. Others fear our environment is on the brink of turmoil because of misuse. Others point to the collapse of our nation's political unity. And the list goes on. As a result, people live in fear: fear of international war, environmental disaster, and economic collapse.
However, for the student of the Bible, none of this should be surprising. Two thousand years ago, Christ predicted that these things would happen as the world continued to rush headlong in its pursuit of sin and its abandonment of God. The crisis facing the world is not political, economic, or environmental. Rather, the crisis is spiritual. As the world continues to decay because of the effects of sin, it will increasingly be plagued by these disasters. However, for the Christian, this descent toward destruction is not without hope. The turmoil is a sign that we are moving toward the ultimate solution, the return of Christ, when he will establish his kingdom and restore the world to God’s original intent (24:29-31). Therefore, instead of being fearful, we live by faith in the promises of a future salvation and restoration that will come when Christ returns.
The greatest danger we face is rejecting the truth of the gospel and being misled by false prophets and teachers. Our greatest threat is false teachers who reject the Bible and its warnings, and teach what people want to hear. Many today claim to speak for God but reject his word and reinterpret the Bible to fit their own desires. They proclaim that God is loving and will not judge, even as they rush headlong to their own destruction. God Christ reminds us, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away” (Mt. 24:35). This includes the promise of his return to bring salvation as well as his promise to come and bring judgment upon those that reject him.
The greatest threat today is not the events of the world but the false teachers we follow, who reject the truth of God’s word and promise peace and safety rather than warn of the coming destruction (1 Thess 5:3). We need to remember that God is a God of love and mercy, but he is also a God of holiness and justice. He offers salvation to all who will accept his grace, but warns of judgment upon those who reject him. The question we must ask is not: “How do we stop the destructive forces in the world?” Rather, we need to ask, “Have I accepted the salvation that Christ offers?” Are we fearful of what is happening in the world, or are we trusting in God, who controls the universe?
Matthew 21-24
“For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.”
Matthew 24 is a pivotal chapter in our understanding of what is happening in the world today and where the world is going. We live in a world and culture that many have characterized as a culture of fear. Something sinister seems to lurk in the future, and causes us to be fearful. Everywhere we turn, there are signs that our world is moving toward an impending crisis. For some, it is the geopolitical world, where international tensions seem to rise even as the economy becomes more global than national. Others fear our environment is on the brink of turmoil because of misuse. Others point to the collapse of our nation's political unity. And the list goes on. As a result, people live in fear: fear of international war, environmental disaster, and economic collapse.
However, for the student of the Bible, none of this should be surprising. Two thousand years ago, Christ predicted that these things would happen as the world continued to rush headlong in its pursuit of sin and its abandonment of God. The crisis facing the world is not political, economic, or environmental. Rather, the crisis is spiritual. As the world continues to decay because of the effects of sin, it will increasingly be plagued by these disasters. However, for the Christian, this descent toward destruction is not without hope. The turmoil is a sign that we are moving toward the ultimate solution, the return of Christ, when he will establish his kingdom and restore the world to God’s original intent (24:29-31). Therefore, instead of being fearful, we live by faith in the promises of a future salvation and restoration that will come when Christ returns.
The greatest danger we face is rejecting the truth of the gospel and being misled by false prophets and teachers. Our greatest threat is false teachers who reject the Bible and its warnings, and teach what people want to hear. Many today claim to speak for God but reject his word and reinterpret the Bible to fit their own desires. They proclaim that God is loving and will not judge, even as they rush headlong to their own destruction. God Christ reminds us, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away” (Mt. 24:35). This includes the promise of his return to bring salvation as well as his promise to come and bring judgment upon those that reject him.
The greatest threat today is not the events of the world but the false teachers we follow, who reject the truth of God’s word and promise peace and safety rather than warn of the coming destruction (1 Thess 5:3). We need to remember that God is a God of love and mercy, but he is also a God of holiness and justice. He offers salvation to all who will accept his grace, but warns of judgment upon those who reject him. The question we must ask is not: “How do we stop the destructive forces in the world?” Rather, we need to ask, “Have I accepted the salvation that Christ offers?” Are we fearful of what is happening in the world, or are we trusting in God, who controls the universe?
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